LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 359 



of an address to your Grace against him. Your- 

 self are best judge what is fit to be done in the 

 case, because you have the advantage of en- 

 quiring into all the circumstances of it. If my 

 advice can signify any thing, it can only be to 

 tell your Grace what I would do in it, as the 

 case appears to me at this distance. I would 

 send for him, and tell him, that I would never 

 do any thing to infringe the Act of Toleration. 

 But I did not think his case came within it ; that 

 there are two things in his case which would 

 hinder me from granting him a license, though 

 he were in all things conformable to the Church 

 of England. First, his setting up a school 

 where a free-school is already established ; and 

 then, his instructing young men in so public a 

 manner in university learning, which is contrary 

 to his oath to do, if he hath taken a degree in 

 either of our universities ; and I doubt, contrary 

 to the bishop's oath to grant him a license for 

 doing of it ; so that your Grace does not, in this 

 matter, consider him at all as a dissenter. This 

 I only offer to your Grace as what seems to me 

 the fairest and softest way of ridding your hands 

 of this business. With my humble service to 

 Mrs. Sharp, and my hearty prayers for your 

 health, and long life, to do God and his Church 

 much service, I remain, my Lord, your Grace's 

 very affectionate brother and servant, 



" Jo. Cant." 



